-- FRANCESCA SMITH, Richland

First celebrated in 1621, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the third Thursday of November. It is one of the few occasions when time seems to slow down: Reuniting with family reminds us of the true blessings in life, makes us appreciate how truly grateful we are, and seems to make our nagging problems not as imposing. Personally, my family's favorite saying is, "A tavola non si invecchia mai," which means "At the table, one never grows old." This splendid holiday -- quite sadly -- is being overshadowed by a tragically commercial dark spot known as Black Friday.

Instead of spending quality time with family, people are lining up in the freezing cold to get their hands on some supposedly good deals. In some instances, people have been camping outside of stores for weeks. It is obvious that these people don't understand the true meaning of the holidays. This Thanksgiving I'm thankful that I have the common sense to avoid Black Friday.